What is The Pilot Program?
"The Pilot program is a project based learning program for high school students at U-32 in Montpelier, Vermont. Students enrolled in this program learn how to understand themselves as learners. They are changing educational paradigms. Project plans are designed by students based on their passions and interests. In the Pilot, students gain a deeper understanding of how to make learning a lifelong activity." - Definition from Pilot Website
Here are the different aspects of the program that pilot students must complete throughout the year:
1. Create A Learning Plan
Learning plans are the first thing we do in the Pilot Program. They help us set goals and make detailed plans around how we will achieve them. At the end of each quarter, we are required to go back through them and make any necessary updates. Throughout the year, students in the program frequently look back to these plans for guidance.*You can find my learning plans for this year under the "Home" tab.*
2. Meet with Advisors and Mentors
The Pilot Program motto is 'independent but not alone' - meaning that in order to have a positive experience in the Pilot you must make connections and meet with mentors and advisors who are there to help you succeed. Advisors, also known as content advisors, are the teachers at U32 you periodically show your work to and demonstrate your learning in order to be graded. Mentors are resources outside of school that help you with the specific work you're doing. Most often, students are required to have a mentor for each subject they are learning about. (Ex. if you are studying architecture, you may have a mentor who is an architect and can give you specific information to guide your learning.)
3. Go to Pilot Seminar
Pilot Seminar is a class that everyone in the Pilot Program must attend 2-3 times each week. It is an opportunity for advisors to give us information and resources to help us as stay organized and productive. It is also an opportunity for this amazing community of independent learners to come together and share their experiences and give advice and suggestions to others.
4. Journal in Blog
The blog is an opportunity for students to give a more personal and informal reflection about how their Pilot work is going as well as how the student is doing in general. It is an opportunity to reflect on personal growth and write about what you have been doing well and what aspects of your project work you need to change. *You can find links to my blogs under the tab "Reflections" tab*
5. Document Work in a Portfolio
As we work hard on our projects, it is so important that we document our process and final products! Every student has a personal google drive to add images, audio clips, pieces of writing etc. to show all the work they've done. Most importantly though, we have to document our work in a final portfolio in a more organized and visually pleasing way than the google drive. *This website right here is my final portfolio and contains all my documentation from the past two and a half years in the Pilot.*
6. Write Narratives
Reflection is a crucial part of the program and allows students to acknowledge what aspects of their project work is working and what needs to change. That's where narratives come in! At the end of each quarter we have to write an essay going over what we have done that quarter, what we have learned, what worked, and what didn't. It is an opportunity for students to do some personal reflecting as well as an opportunity for advisors and mentors to see where the student is at with their study and how they can further help. *You can find all of my narratives under the "Reflections" tab.*
7. The Exhibition
The exhibition is very similar to the narrative except it is essentially a verbal presentation of all the work you have done that quarter. Students have the chance to invite advisors, mentors, parents, friends and family to exhibitions to show them everything they have accomplished. It is a chance for reflection, feedback and celebration! *Most of my exhibitions have been in persona and unfortunately not filmed - however you can view the recordings of the virtual exhibitions under the "Reflections" tab.
Learning plans are the first thing we do in the Pilot Program. They help us set goals and make detailed plans around how we will achieve them. At the end of each quarter, we are required to go back through them and make any necessary updates. Throughout the year, students in the program frequently look back to these plans for guidance.*You can find my learning plans for this year under the "Home" tab.*
2. Meet with Advisors and Mentors
The Pilot Program motto is 'independent but not alone' - meaning that in order to have a positive experience in the Pilot you must make connections and meet with mentors and advisors who are there to help you succeed. Advisors, also known as content advisors, are the teachers at U32 you periodically show your work to and demonstrate your learning in order to be graded. Mentors are resources outside of school that help you with the specific work you're doing. Most often, students are required to have a mentor for each subject they are learning about. (Ex. if you are studying architecture, you may have a mentor who is an architect and can give you specific information to guide your learning.)
3. Go to Pilot Seminar
Pilot Seminar is a class that everyone in the Pilot Program must attend 2-3 times each week. It is an opportunity for advisors to give us information and resources to help us as stay organized and productive. It is also an opportunity for this amazing community of independent learners to come together and share their experiences and give advice and suggestions to others.
4. Journal in Blog
The blog is an opportunity for students to give a more personal and informal reflection about how their Pilot work is going as well as how the student is doing in general. It is an opportunity to reflect on personal growth and write about what you have been doing well and what aspects of your project work you need to change. *You can find links to my blogs under the tab "Reflections" tab*
5. Document Work in a Portfolio
As we work hard on our projects, it is so important that we document our process and final products! Every student has a personal google drive to add images, audio clips, pieces of writing etc. to show all the work they've done. Most importantly though, we have to document our work in a final portfolio in a more organized and visually pleasing way than the google drive. *This website right here is my final portfolio and contains all my documentation from the past two and a half years in the Pilot.*
6. Write Narratives
Reflection is a crucial part of the program and allows students to acknowledge what aspects of their project work is working and what needs to change. That's where narratives come in! At the end of each quarter we have to write an essay going over what we have done that quarter, what we have learned, what worked, and what didn't. It is an opportunity for students to do some personal reflecting as well as an opportunity for advisors and mentors to see where the student is at with their study and how they can further help. *You can find all of my narratives under the "Reflections" tab.*
7. The Exhibition
The exhibition is very similar to the narrative except it is essentially a verbal presentation of all the work you have done that quarter. Students have the chance to invite advisors, mentors, parents, friends and family to exhibitions to show them everything they have accomplished. It is a chance for reflection, feedback and celebration! *Most of my exhibitions have been in persona and unfortunately not filmed - however you can view the recordings of the virtual exhibitions under the "Reflections" tab.